Transfers!

Wow - those 6 week time periods between transfers seem to pass pretty quickly. Of course, you'll hear no complaints from ME about time passing too fast! BTW, thanks to all who have written to Elder Broekhuijsen. I know he really appreciates hearing from friends and family. So, keep up the good work! Okay, I know you didn't come to this blog to hear from me, so without further ado…here's Elder Broekhuijsen!

I have some big news. I got a call from President Sartori on Thursday night, and here's the verdict: I'm getting transferred back to New City in Tol'yatti to be a District Leader and train! Whoa! Wasn't expecting that at all! But I prayed really hard, especially at the beginning of my mission here in Russia that I would get to train Elder Swartz. Of course, I can't say specifically that I'll be training HIM, but I know the Lord answers prayers. As I type this, Elder Swartz is probably feeling vaguely guilty about being up past 10:30, and packing everything into two suitcases, desperately trying to stay under the weight limit. He'll be flying out in not too long, and arriving in Samara late tomorrow night (from my perspective). I'll be on a train back to Samara where I'll go through a "New Trainer Meeting" and then each trainee will be interviewed by president and assigned a trainer, then shipped off to our areas. That puts me in New City again Wednesday evening around 7:00. Of course, I'm ready to train whoever the Lord wants me to train. But I can't help but think how strange it is that I was put as a Zone Leader for just one transfer... I know the Lord has great plans for me.

So I'm going to miss Saratov. But It's okay. I love New City. After Zone Conference, (which went awesome, by the way), I've resolved to do a much better job of working with the members. The members and the missionaries in small branches like we have in Russia should be like one big family working for the same thing, all together. It shouldn't be us barely knowing the members but always asking them to do stuff like sit in on lessons with us. So I'm going to hit up relations with the members back in the New City branch right away. Ironically enough, Elder Kuzmin is going to be training for his last cycle in Schloozavoy, which is in my District. Cool!

At Zone Leader Council and Zone Conference, we had the privilege of hosting Elder Zwick of the 70 and President Schwitzer, our Europe East Area president (over all the missions in Russia, Ukraine, etc.). It was fantastic. Elder Zwick is a really amazing guy.

Got mail from a bunch of people when it came down from Samara at Zone Conference. Thanks for writing, everyone! I got DearElders from Elder Derby. I mean Gordy DerbyYates. And Sam Bunderson (although I have NOT gotten any regular letters from you, so apparently nobody sent them) and Kendra Nicholls. I also got a letter from you, Mom, and one from Grandma. Got a DearElder from John and Kimi, and Paula & fam. Everyone's on my list to write back to. :D And next transfer I should actually have time on P-day to do things like "write back to lettters" instead of spending all P-day doing Zone Planning and stuff. And for those wanting to send letters that are not one page, single sided through the pouch, you can mail them straight to the Bodnikov Street 95-1 address that should be on the blog.

Thank you to everyone for your prayers on my behalf. Some days they're the only thing still keeping me going. ;) No, I'm kidding, but I know they really do help. Prayer is ridiculously powerful. I never understood that until my mission.

Mom, Dad, you can rest easy while I'm in Tol'yatti. I never even met an angry drunk once while I was there. It's like the safest city in the mission except maybe Izhevsk or something.

I love you all! I'll do my best to get photos and letters home whenever I can find time! Have an awesome week everyone!

You rock!

Love,

Elder Broekhuijsen